Fuchsia plant named ‘USFUC0901’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Fuchsia  plant named ‘USFUC0901’, characterized by its upright and mounding to cascading plant habit; freely branching habit, dense and bushy plant form; vigorous growth habit; early and freely flowering habit; long flowering period; purple and red purple-colored flowers; and relative tolerance to high temperatures.

Botanical designation: Fuchsia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘USFUC0901’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Fuchsia plant botanically known as Fuchsia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘USFUC0901’.

The new Fuchsia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to create new mounding and freely branching Fuchsia cultivars with numerous attractive flowers and tolerance to high temperatures.

The new Fuchsia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on Jun. 12, 2008 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of a proprietary selection of Fuchsia×hybrida identified as code number 08FJ03-01, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Fuchsia×hybrida identified as code number 08FJ07-02, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Fuchsia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan on Sep. 14, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Fuchsia plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since Sep. 15, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this new Fuchsia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Fuchsia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘USFUC0901’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘USFUC0901’ as a new and distinct Fuchsia plant:

-   -   1. Upright and mounding to cascading plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit, dense and bushy plant form.     -   3. Vigorous growth habit.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Long flowering period.     -   6. Purple and red purple-colored flowers.     -   7. Relatively tolerant to high temperatures.

The new Fuchsia plant can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Fuchsia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Fuchsia are more mounding than and not as         outwardly spreading as plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Fuchsia flower earlier than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Fuchsia have larger flowers than plants of         the female parent selection.

The new Fuchsia plant can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Fuchsia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more vigorous than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia are more mounding than and not as         upright as plants of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Fuchsia and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have reddish pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Fuchsia can be compared to plants of ‘Shabetty’ disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,765. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Fuchsia and ‘Shabetty’ differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Fuchsia were more vigorous than and not as         compact as plants of ‘Shabetty’.     -   2. Plants of the new Fuchsia and ‘Shabetty’ differed in flower         color as plants of ‘Shabetty’ had red and white-colored flowers.     -   3. Plants of the new Fuchsia were more tolerant to high         temperatures than plants of ‘Shabetty’.

Plants of the new Fuchsia can also be compared to plants of ‘Goetzimpro’ disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,084. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Fuchsia and ‘Goetzimpro’ differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Fuchsia were more vigorous than and not as         compact as plants of ‘Goetzimpro’.     -   2. Plants of the new Fuchsia and ‘Goetzimpro’ differed in flower         color as plants of ‘Goetzimpro’ had light and dark pink-colored         flowers.     -   3. Plants of the new Fuchsia were more tolerant to high         temperatures than plants of ‘Goetzimpro’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Fuchsia showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Fuchsia.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘USFUC0901’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘USFUC0901’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring in 20.3-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Bonsall, Calif. and under cultural practices typically used in commercial Fuchsia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 24° C., night temperatures averaged 17° C. and light levels averaged 4,000 foot-candle. Plants were pinched one time and were 17 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Fuchsia×hybrida ‘USFUC0901’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Fuchsia×hybrida identified as code number 08FJ03-01, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Fuchsia×hybrida identified as code number 08FJ07-02, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 23 days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 25 days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and mounding to cascading             growth habit; freely branching habit with about 20 primary             lateral branches each with multiple secondary and tertiary             lateral branches developing per plant; pinching enhances             lateral branch development; dense and bushy plant form;             vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 18 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 63 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 28 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2.7 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright then outwardly arching to             drooping.         -   Texture.—Sparsely pubescent; with development, smooth,             woody.         -   Color.—Close to 195A tinted with close to 183D; woody stems,             close to 199A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 4.3 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.6 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic to slightly lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute to slightly apiculate.         -   Base.—Attenuate with obtuse tendencies.         -   Margin.—Minutely serrate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation,             close to 187B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 183C.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             surface: Close to 183C. Color, lower surface: Close to 183D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single axillary flowers;             flowers radially symmetrical and pendulous; freely flowering             habit, typically two flowers develop per leaf axil; about             1,800 flowers per plant.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; plants             flower continuously from spring until frost in California.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about three to four days on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.3 cm.         -   Flower height (depth).—About 5.5 cm.         -   Corolla diameter.—About 1 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Shape: Oblanceolate. Length: About 3.7 cm.             Diameter: About 8 mm. Color: Close to N57A to N57C.         -   Corolla.—Quantity of petals and arrangement: Typically four             petals arranged in a single whorl; petals imbricate. Petal             length: About 2.3 cm. Petal width: About 1.5 cm. Petal             shape: Obovate. Petal apex: Rounded. Petal base: Attenuate.             Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Petal color: When             opening, inner surface: Close to N81A. When opening, outer             surface: Close to 83B. Fully opened, inner surface: Close to             77A; towards the base, close to N66B; color becomes closer             to 71A with development. Fully opened, outer surface: Close             to 77A; towards the base, close to 67B; color becomes closer             to slightly darker than 72A with development.         -   Calyx.—Quantity of sepals and arrangement: Typically four             sepals arranged in a single whorl and fused at the base;             calyx star-shaped. Sepal length: About 2.7 cm. Sepal width:             About 5 mm. Sepal shape: Gladiate; reflexed. Sepal apex:             Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Sepal color: When             opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 58B. When             opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 54A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.9 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Aspect: About 45° to 55° from the stem axis. Strength:             Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Eight per flower.             Filament length: About 1.8 cm. Filament color: Close to 53C.             Anther shape: Oblong. Anther size: About 3.5 mm. Anther             color: Close to 185A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:             Close to 199C. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil             length: About 4.3 cm. Style length: About 3.8 cm. Style             color: Close to 53D. Stigma shape: Globose. Stigma color:             Close to 47A. Ovary color: Close to 137B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Fuchsia. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Fuchsia have relatively     good low and high temperature tolerance and have been observed to     tolerate temperatures ranging from about 2° C. to about 38° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Fuchsia have not been     observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to Fuchsia     plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Fuchsia plant named ‘USFUC0901’ as illustrated and described. 